Fire Marshal Discovers Arson--And Humanity

The job of a fire marshal in the United States ishim."
often like the job of a private investigator: thanklessA government official, a mysterious fire, a political
and fascinating. But a private investigator's role isradical, a confrontation. In most situations, this would
usually punitive: figure out who's scamming thebe a clear opportunity for power and authority to
insurance company, say, or where the ex-convictassume their roles, for the government official to
who broke parole ran to. A good fire marshal, on themake clear, punitive statements. But that's not what
other hand, never forgets one critical rule: fire safetyMaldonado--a fire marshal, after all, did.
comes first, no matter what."To the person or persons responsible for this crime I
Paul Maldonado, fire marshal for the State of Texas,would like to relay a message," said Maldonado in the
was called in to investigate the recent fire at thesame conference. "We are concerned with your
Austin mansion of Governor Rick Perry. In retrospect,safety."
it must have seemed inevitable that the buildingHe went on to explain: the video footage showed a
would be targeted for arson. Perry, former lieutenantman with some experience throwing incendiary
Governor under President Bush, inherited much of thedevices. Fire is a terrible thing to experiment with,
ill will that the student population in Austin held forwarned Maldonado. The arsonist chose a dangerous
the Texas Republicans, and his reign as Governormeans of sending a message to the
was marked by occasional scandal and a risinggovernor--dangerous not only to the mansion, but to
discontent among the electorate. The 2007the arsonist. And more: Maldonado said that he
announcement that the Governor's mansion would beappreciated, above all, the willingness of the arsonist
remodeled to the tune of $10 million--including ato wait until the Governor was away, until the
state-of-the-art fire suppression system--must havemansion was deserted, to set his fire.
been, in retrospect, the last straw. On the night of"We will not forget that," the fire marshal said.
June 8, 2008, that straw burst into flames.The investigation goes on, of course. But what it
Maldonado and his video surveillance team knew whoreveals about the investigator is almost more
the suspect was--roughly, of course. He fit thefascinating than the eventual identity of the culprit.
established profile: young, twenty-something, athletic.It's rare to find a public official who truly concerns
Angry, even. In a press conference, Maldonadohimself with what's really important in criminal matters:
proposed that this anger was the cause of the arson.the threat to public safety, and the value of human
He might be angry "at the death penalty-- and otherlife. It takes a fire marshal, in the end, to say that he
political issues," Maldonado said. "His feelings of angerappreciates his quarry for valuing human life.
and frustration will be noted by people who know